Spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages so as to enable easy and convenient drinking of liquid beverages contained in the container through an associated straw and easily dispense the liquid beverages into another container. The spout assembly includes a main body coupled on a top of a container, a fluid spout assembly having a first fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can flow out of the container in a state where the container is inclined and a second fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can be socked in a state where the container vertically stands; and a cap coupled to the fluid spouting assembly. The fluid spout assembly can be folded on a folding portion or be elected so that the user can drink or dispense the liquid beverages.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a spout assembly having aplurality of fluid passage that is designed to enable easy andconvenient drinking of liquid contained in a container through ansucking passage, and easily dispense the liquid into another containerthrough an exhausting passage, and an outflow means including thesucking passage and the exhausting passage can be bent in a direction.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Generally, many kinds of beverage containers are used for aliquid beverage. The beverage container is composed of a cap and acontainer and the user can open the cap and then suck the beverage witha straw or drink it. However, it is unsanitary because the contactportion with human mouse can easily polluted. Though the user can use astraw, it is not convenient to provide when it is needed.

[0003] Korean Utility Model Registration Nos. 20-176923 and 20-193549disclose a container having a straw. As the container of the prior artis designed for sucking the beverage, it is impossible or is notconvenient to dispense the beverage of the container to anothercontainer like a cup. The disclosed beverage container is designed suchthat the upper end of the straw is exposed to the atmosphere.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0004] Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort tosolve the problem. It is an objective of the present invention toprovide a spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passage therebyeasily and conveniently sucking the beverage and dispensing the beverageto another container like a cup.

[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a spoutassembly having a plurality of fluid passage that is designed such thata protruding fluid passage can be folded thereby preventing thepollution of a mouse contact portion.

[0006] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides aspout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages comprising: a mainbody coupled on an opening of a container; an outflow means having afirst fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can flow out ofthe container in a state where the container is inclined and a secondfluid passage through which the liquid beverage can be sucked in a statewhere the container vertically stands; a cap coupled to the outflowmeans; and a bending means where the outflow means can be bent or beerected so that the user can easily drink or dispense the liquidbeverages.

[0007] The main body includes an opening identification skirt which isdivided by a separating guide line and is provided with an engagementjaw engaged and fixed to a top end of the container.

[0008] Preferably, the main body includes an inserting groove where thetop end of the container is inserted and seal-coupled, or adheres to thecontainer, or is integrally molded by an inserting manner to the top endof the container, or is integrally molded with the container.

[0009] The main body is provided with a space for receiving the outflowmeans bent by the bending means. The main body is provided with anelastic protrusion for preventing the cap and the outflow means frombeing erected while bent to the side wall of the space and the elasticprotrusion has a suitable size to elastically-pass the cap.

[0010] The first fluid passage is protrudently extended from the mainbody to the outside, and the spout assembly includes a spout formed witha central hole for discharging internal contents. The spout is formed atits inside with an air inflow hole.

[0011] Preferably, the second fluid passage includes a small diameter ofan outflow tube mounted inside of the first fluid passage, and theoutflow tube communicates from the top end of the first fluid passage tothe bottom end of the container. The outflow tube is formed with abellows bending portion. The outflow tube is made from a flexiblesynthetic resin. The outflow tube is composed of an upper outflow tubeand a straw inserted thereinto, and the straw is formed with the bellowsbending portion.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, The second fluid passageis supported by a supporting means in the first fluid passage andincludes an operating outflow tube upward or downward movably mountedthereto, the operating outflow tube communicates from the top end of thefirst fluid passage to the bottom end of the container, an outerprotrusion of the top end of the operating outflow tube is elasticallyengaged and fixed with an inner protrusion of the cap whereby theoperating outflow tube moves upwardly by a fixed distance while openingthe cap. The operating outflow tube is formed with the bellows bendingportion. The operating outflow tube is made from the flexible syntheticresin.

[0013] The cap is threaded with an outer circumference of the outflowmeans and includes an opening identification skirt that is divided by aseparating guide line and is provided with an engagement jaw engaged andfixed to the main body.

[0014] Preferably, the bending means includes a bellows bending portionformed on the outflow means.

[0015] The bending means includes a bending margin portion that isconnected between the main body and the outflow means to accomplish ofbending the outflow means and a bending border portion that is connectedbetween an opposite main body from the bending margin portion and theoutflow means thereby being a bending axis of the outflow means. Thebending margin portion is formed with a folding portion.

[0016] The bending margin portion, is connected between a side wallforming a concave space of the main body and the outflow means, and iscomposed of a bottom surface of the concave space and the side wallwhile the outflow means is bent in a direction. The bending marginportion is upwardly protruded from an end portion of the main body, andthe outflow means is tilted while it is bent. A fixing sticker is stuckto the outflow means and the top surface of the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of theinvention, and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention:

[0018] FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective views and sectional views of a spoutassembly in a first embodiment according to the present invention;

[0019] FIGS. 5 to 10 are perspective views and sectional views where aspout assembly of a first embodiment is coupled to a container;

[0020] FIGS. 11 to 13 are sectional views of an outflow means in a firstembodiment according to the present invention;

[0021] FIGS. 14 to 16 are sectional views of a bending means in a firstembodiment according to the present invention;

[0022] FIGS. 17 to 19 are partly section views of a spout assembly in asecond embodiment according to the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 20 is a perspective view where a spout assembly of a secondembodiment is coupled to a container;

[0024]FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a bending means in a secondembodiment according to the present invention;

[0025]FIGS. 22 and 23 are perspective views of a spout assembly in asecond embodiment according to the present invention;

[0026]FIGS. 24 and 25 are perspective views of a spout assembly in athird embodiment according to the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a bending means in a thirdembodiment according to the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 27 is a sectional view of an outflow means in a thirdembodiment according to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a main body in a third embodimentaccording to the present invention; and

[0030] FIGS. 29 to 31 are perspective views of a spout assembly in afourth embodiment according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0031] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] First Embodiment

[0033] FIGS. 1 to 4 shows a spout assembly in a first embodimentaccording to the present invention.

[0034] A spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages accordingto the present invention comprises a main body 100 coupled or adheres toan opening of a container C, an outflow means 200 having a first fluidpassage through which the liquid beverage can flow out of the containerC in a state where the container C is inclined and a second fluidpassage through which the liquid beverage can be sucked in a state wherethe container C vertically stands, a cap 300 coupled to the outflowmeans 200; and a bending means where the outflow means 200 can be bentor be erected so that the user can easily drink or dispense the liquidbeverages.

[0035] The main body 100 is provided with an inserting groove 104 inwhich an annular protrusion 2 formed on an upper end opening of thecontainer C is inserted. As another structure of the inserting groove104 shown in FIG. 5, a fixing jaw 106 is formed on an innercircumference of the main body 100 and the annular protrusion 2 isinserted and coupled thereinto.

[0036] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body 100 is integrallyformed on the upper end of the container C by inserting manner. In FIG.7, the main body 100 is provided with a thread 108 and is threaded withan outer circumference of the opening of the beverage container C. InFIGS. 8 to 10, the main body 100 can be adhere to an upper end of thecontainer C or sealed by a heat pressing.

[0037] The main body 100 is provided with an opening identificationskirt 112 divided by a cutting line 110. The opening identificationskirt 112 is provided with an engagement jaw 114 fixed to a protrusion 4formed on an outer circumference of the upper end of the container C.

[0038] The outflow means 200 is provided with a first fluid passage 202through which the liquid beverage can flow out of the container C in astate where the container C is inclined and a second fluid passage 204through which the liquid beverage can be sucked in a state where thecontainer C vertically stands. When drawing the beverage through thefirst fluid passage 202, the outer air flows in through the second fluidpassage 204. When dispensing the beverage through the second fluidpassage 204, the outer air flows in through the first fluid passage 202.

[0039] The first fluid passage 202 is integrally formed with the mainbody 100 and includes a spout 206 upwardly protruded out of the mainbody 100. The spout 206 is provided with a central hole for dischargingthe contents of the container C.

[0040] The second fluid passage 204 includes a small diameter of anoutflow tube 210 mounted inside of the central hole 208. The outflowtube 210 is protruded upward from the first fluid passage 202 by apredetermined length, and the outflow tube 210 communicates the top endof the first fluid passage 202 to the bottom end of the container C.

[0041] The outflow tube 210 is made from a flexible synthetic resin, oris formed with a bellows bending portion 212 as shown in FIG. 11.

[0042] Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the outflow tube 210 is disposedinto the first fluid passage 202 in state of interposing a supportingmember 214. At this point, the outflow tube 210 can be a straw.

[0043]FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the second fluid passage 204.The second fluid passage 204 is designed such that an upper outflow tube210′ is fixed to the interior of the first outflow tube 202 and a straw216 is inserted into the interior of the upper outflow tube 210′, andthe straw 216 is formed with a bellows bending portion 218.

[0044] The outflow means 200 is sealed by a cap 330 for preventing thebeverage contained in the container from being flowed out. The cap 300is threaded with the outer circumference of the outflow tube 206 and thebottom end of the cap 300 is extended to the bottom end of the outflowmeans 200 so as to prevent a pollution of the outflow means 200.

[0045] The cap 300 is provided at its bottom end portion with an openingidentification skirt 304 divided by a cutting line 302. The openingidentification skirt 304 is provided with an engagement jaw at aprotrusion 206 a formed on a lower outer circumference of the outflowtube 206.

[0046] The outflow means 200 coupled with the cap 300 is folded into aconcave space 102 of the main body 100 by a bending means(see FIG. 3),or is vertically erected(see FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0047] The cap 300 and the outflow means 200 received in the concavespace 102 is prevented from being removed by an elastic protrusion 116disposed at a side wall of the space 102. The elastic protrusion 116 hasa size that the cap 300 can be flexibly separated from the protrusion116 so that the user can easily pull out the cap 300. A groove 102 b isformed at a side of the concave space 102.

[0048] The bending means for bending or erecting the outflow means 200includes a bending margin portion 118 for bending the outflow means 200and a bending border portion 120 connected between the main body 100opposite to the bending margin portion 118 and the outflow means 200thereby being a bending axis of the outflow means 200.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 2, 14 and 15, the bending margin portion 118,is connected between a side wall forming a concave space 102 of the mainbody 100 and the outflow means 200, and is composed of a bottom surfaceof the concave space 102 and side wall when the outflow means 200 isbent in a direction.

[0050] Further, the bending margin portion 118 is formed at a side witha folding portion 122 for easily achieving a bending operation of theoutflow means 200.

[0051]FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the bending means. The bendingmeans is formed at a bottom of the outflow means 200 with a bellowsbending portion 220 thereby accomplishing a bending operation. In thiscase, the main body 100 is couple with a punching opening of thecontainer C shown in FIG. 10. It is preferred to stick a fixing stickerto the main body 100 and the outflow means 200.

[0052] Second Embodiment

[0053] FIGS. 17 to 19 show another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages comprisesa main body 100 assembled therewith or integrally formed therewith, anoutflow means 200 that is upwardly protruded when the outflow means iserected and is received in an inner space 102 of the main body 100 whenthe outflow means is bent in a direction, and a cap 300 threadedlycoupled to the outflow means 200.

[0055] The main body 100 is provided with an annular frame 124 andsealed with an opening upper end portion of the container C. The mainbody 100 can be integrally formed with the container C as shown in FIG.20. At this point, the bottom end opening of the main body 100 is sealedwith a bottom cover 8.

[0056] The outflow means 200 includes a first fluid passage 202 wherethe user draws a beverage contained in the container C, and a secondfluid passage 204 where the user dispenses the beverage of the containerC when the container C is inclined.

[0057] The first fluid passage 202 is integrally formed with the mainbody 100 and includes a spout 206 upwardly protruded out of thecontainer C.

[0058] The second fluid passage 204 is supported by a supporting means214′ in the first fluid passage 202 and includes an operating outflowtube 210′ upward or downward movably mounted thereto. The operatingoutflow tube 210′ communicates from the top end of the outflow tube 210′to the bottom end of the container C. An outer protrusion 210 a of thetop end of the operating outflow tube 210′ is elastically engaged andfixed with an inner protrusion 308 of the cap 300 whereby the operatingoutflow tube 210′ moves upwardly by a predetermined length while openingthe cap 300. It is preferred that at least three supporting members 214are disposed at a regular intervals around a circumference thereof.

[0059] The operating outflow tube 210 is made from a flexible syntheticresin or is formed at its lower side with a bellows bending portion 212for easily bending the outflow means 200.

[0060]FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of the second fluid passage 204.The second fluid passage 204 is composed of a lower outflow tube 210 bfixed by the supporting member 214′ and a movable outflow tube 210 cinserted into the lower outflow tube 210 b and upwardly and downwardlymoves, and the lower outflow tube 210 b is formed with the bellowsbending portion 212. Further, a straw 216′ can be inserted into thelower outflow tube 210 b.

[0061] The cap 300 is threaded with an outer circumference of the spout206 and includes an opening identification skirt 304 that is divided bya separating guide line 302. The opening identification skirt 304 isprovided with an engagement jaw engaged and fixed to a protrusion formedon a lower outer circumference of the spout 206.

[0062] At this point, the cap is designed such that an inner smalldiameter portion 222 is extended to be inserted into the upper end ofthe spout 206 and tightly sealed with a top inner circumference surfaceof the spout 206.

[0063] The outflow means 200 coupled with the cap 300 is folded in theconcave portion 102 of the main body 100 and prevented from beingremoved by an elastic protrusion 116 disposed in the side wall of thespace 102.

[0064] The bending means includes a bending margin portion 118 foraccomplishing a bending operation of the outflow means 200 and a bendingborder portion 120 that is connected between an opposite main body 100from the bending margin portion 118 and the outflow means 200 therebybeing a bending axis of the outflow means 200.

[0065] The bending margin portion 118 is formed with a folding portion122 for easily bending the outflow means 200.

[0066]FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of the bending means. The bendingmeans is formed with a bellows bending portion 220 at the bottom of theoutflow means 200. In this case, the main body 100 adheres to a punchinghole of the container C. The main body is not provided with a space forreceiving the outflow means 200.

[0067] In this case, the spout assembly of the present invention ismounted on a cut end portion 6 of the container C, and is received in aspace 102′ formed on the container C while bending the spout assemblywith the bellows bending portion 220.

[0068]FIG. 23 shows another embodiment of the container C. The containerC can be a cartoon pack or a synthetic resin pack.

[0069] Third Embodiment

[0070]FIGS. 24 and 25 shows another embodiment of the present invention.The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages comprises a mainbody 100 assembled or adhered to the container C, an outflow means 200upward protruded from the main body 100 and received in an upper space102″, and a cap 300 threaded and sealed with the outflow means 200.

[0071] The construction of the main body, the outflow means 200 and thecap is similar to that of the first and second embodiments. But a space102″ for receiving the outflow means 200 coupled with the cap 300 and ameans for bending the outflow means are different.

[0072] The bending means includes a bending margin portion 118′ that isupward protruded from the end of the main body 100 and a bending borderportion 120 that is connected between an opposite main body 100 from thebending margin portion 118′ and the outflow means 120 thereby being abending axis of the outflow means. The bending margin portion 118′ isupwardly and downwardly protruded from the end of the main body 100. Theoutflow means 200 can be slightly tilted and a portion of the outflowmeans is received in the main body 100. It is preferred that a fixingsticker is stuck to the cap 300 coupled to the outflow means 200 and themain body 100.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 26, the bending margin portion 118′ is providedwith a folding portion 122.

[0074] In FIG. 27, an air inflow hole 224 is formed in the first fluidpassage 202, especially, to the outflow tube 206. The airflow hole 224is for easily dispensing the beverage of the container by supplying theouter air therethrough.

[0075]FIG. 28 shows where a reinforcement frame 126 is provided to themain body 100 for tightly sealing the main body 100 and the container.

[0076] Fourth Embodiment

[0077]FIGS. 29 and 30 shows another embodiment of the spout assemblyaccording to the present invention.

[0078] The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages comprisesa main body adhered to the top of the container C, an outflow means 200upwardly protruded from the main body 100 and a cap 300 threaded andsealed with the outflow means 200.

[0079] The main body 100 is stuck to a sealed container C. Therefore, asthe outflow means 200 is erected, the container C is cut and opened. Alower rounding surface 128 is stuck to the beverage container C. Themain body 100 comprises a bending margin portion 118″ upwardly protrudedfrom the main body 100, and a bending border portion 120 that isconnected between an opposite main body 100 from the bending marginportion 118″ and the outflow means 200 thereby being a bending axis ofthe outflow means 200.

[0080] As the outflow means 200 is vertically erected, the bottom end ofthe outflow tube 210 presses the container C and cuts a cutting line 10so that the beverage can flows out.

[0081] While this invention has been described in connection with whatis presently considered to be the most practical and referredembodiments; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages comprising: amain body coupled on an opening of a container; an outflow means havinga first fluid passage through which the liquid beverage can flow out ofthe container in a state where the container is inclined and a secondfluid passage through which the liquid beverage can be sucked in a statewhere the container vertically stands; a cap coupled to the outflowmeans; and a bending means where the outflow means can be bent or beerected so that the user can easily drink or dispense the liquidbeverages.
 2. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the main body includes an openingidentification skirt which is divided by a separating guide line and isprovided with an engagement jaw engaged and fixed to a top end of thecontainer.
 3. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages asclaimed in claim, wherein the main body includes an inserting groovewhere the top end of the container is inserted and seal-coupled.
 4. Thespout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimed in claim1, wherein the main body adheres to the container.
 5. The spout assemblyhaving a plurality of fluid passages as claimed in claim 1, wherein themain body is integrally molded by an inserting manner to the top end ofthe container.
 6. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluidpassages as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is integrallymolded with the container.
 7. The spout assembly having a plurality offluid passages as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is providedwith a space for receiving the outflow means bent by the bending means.8. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first fluid passage is protrudently extended fromthe main body to the outside, and the spout assembly includes a spoutformed with a central hole for discharging internal contents.
 9. Thespout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimed in claim1, wherein the second fluid passage includes a small diameter of anoutflow tube mounted inside of the first fluid passage, and the outflowtube communicates from the top end of the first fluid passage to thebottom end of the container.
 10. The spout assembly having a pluralityof fluid passages as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fluidpassage is supported by a supporting means in the first fluid passageand includes an operating outflow tube upward or downward movablymounted thereto, the operating outflow tube communicates from the topend of the first fluid passage to the bottom end of the container, anouter protrusion of the top end of the operating outflow tube iselastically engaged and fixed with an inner protrusion of the capwhereby the operating outflow tube moves upwardly by a fixed distancewhile opening the cap.
 11. The spout assembly having a plurality offluid passages as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap is threaded withan outer circumference of the outflow means and includes an openingidentification skirt that is divided by a separating guide line and isprovided with an engagement jaw engaged and fixed to the main body. 12.The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages claimed in claim1, wherein the bending means includes a bellows bending portion formedon the outflow means.
 13. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluidpassages as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bending means includes abending margin portion that is connected between the main body and theoutflow means to accomplish of bending the outflow means and a bendingborder portion that is connected between an opposite main body from thebending margin portion and the outflow means thereby being a bendingaxis of the outflow means.
 14. The spout assembly having a plurality offluid passages as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body is providedwith an elastic protrusion for preventing the cap and the outflow meansfrom being erected while bent to the side wall of the space and theelastic protrusion has a suitable size to elastically pass the cap. 15.The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages claimed in claim8, wherein the spout is formed at its inside with an air inflow hole.16. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimedin claim 9, wherein the outflow tube is formed with a bellows bendingportion.
 17. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the outflow tube is made from a flexiblesynthetic resin.
 18. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluidpassages as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outflow tube is composed ofan upper outflow tube and a straw inserted thereinto, and the straw isformed with the bellows bending portion.
 19. The spout assembly having aplurality of fluid passages as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outflowtube is disposed into the first outflow passage in state of interposinga supporting member.
 20. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluidpassages as claimed in claim 10, wherein the operating outflow tube isformed with the bellows bending portion.
 21. The spout assembly having aplurality of fluid passages as claimed in claim 10, wherein theoperating outflow tube is made from the flexible synthetic resin. 22.The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the operating outflow tube is composed of a loweroutflow tube fixed by the supporting member and a movable outflow tubeinserted into the lower outflow tube and upwardly and downwardly moves,and the lower outflow tube is formed with the bellows bending portion.23. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimedin claim 13, wherein the bending margin portion is formed with a foldingportion.
 24. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the bending margin portion, is connectedbetween a side wall forming a concave space of the main body and theoutflow means, and is composed of a bottom surface of the concave spaceand the side wall while the outflow means is bent in a direction. 25.The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passages as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the bending margin portion is upwardly protruded froman end portion of the main body, and the outflow means is tilted whileit is bent.
 26. The spout assembly having a plurality of fluid passagesas claimed in claim 25, wherein a fixing sticker is stuck to the outflowmeans and the top surface of the main body.